Water sprinkler



Jan. 15, 1935. M, A,'BA| AAM 1,987,814

WATER SPRINKLER Filed July 28, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 15, 1935.. M A BALAAM 1,987,814

WATER SPRINKLER Filed Jul 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl, Z

Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES WATER SPRINKLER Maurice Aaron Balaam,

Lompoc, Calif., assignor of one-half to Rain Machine, Ltd.,' Lompoc, Calif., and one-half to West Coast Pipe & Steel Company, Los Angeles, Oalifl, both corporations of California Application J uly 28 1932, Serial No. 625,520 9 Claims. (Cl. 299-67).

My invention relates to a water sprinklerin which the sprinkling nozzles are given a partial rotation and this is obtained by using a hydraulic motor operated by water supplied from that furnishing the water for sprinkling orirrigating.

When rotary sprinklers aroused, of a type in which the discharge of the water causes a rota tion of the sprinkler nozzles, difficulty has arisen, particularly where water carrying a considerable amount of silt or sand is used, and this is 'especially a difiiculty where irrigating water is pumped from an irrigation ditch. "It'frequently happens that the sand, silt, and other dirt carried by the water blocks the nozzles to such an extent that there is not suflicient reaction against the air to rotate the nozzles and, moreover, the discharge of water from the nozzles is lessened. However, unless the sprinkler can rotate properly it will not give an even and adequate distribution of the water. i

My invention is designed to overcome this difficulty by employing a motor for rotating or oscillating the sprinkler nozzles. This motor is preferably of a hydraulic type and obtains its supply directly from the water either pumped or. passed by gravity to the sprinklers.

A main object and feature of my invention, therefore, is the construction of a sprinkler having a hydraulic engine incorporated therewith. This engine is mounted on a suitable support or stand, such as the upper part of a stand pipe. The motor obtains its source of supply of water directly from the stand pipe, causingthe motor to actuate a shaft with an oscillating motion. This shaft is positioned vertically and is tubular so that it receives water from-the stand pipe conveying this water upwardly through the interior of the engine and discharging the water at the oscillating nozzles, which nozzles are carried directly by the oscillating tubular shaft. The hydraulic engine only requires a very small proportion of the total amount of water discharged by the spray nozzles, and this waste water from the motor is sprinkled on the ground adjacent the stand pipe. This waste water, therefore, operates to irrigate the land adjacent the location of the stand pipe, whereas the water from the nozzles is projected to a considerable distance radially from the stand pipe, and as the nozzles are given an oscillating motion, each nozzle turning through a semi-circle, by using two oppositely positioned nozzles, a full circle may be sprayed or irrigated with my oscillating power driven sprinkler. j

In constructing my sprinkler I have endeavored to use a more or less standard type of hydraulic motor. This is of the oscillating type having a radial blade or piston extending outwardly radially from a rotating huband operated by the pressure water derived'from the stand pipe. This bladeis, therefore, rotatedfirst in one direction and thenreverse, the movement of the piston and the hub being through ninety degrees. The hub has valve shiftersv thereon which automatically change the flow of water" in the motor to give this reverse oscillation. The water, preferably, enters the bottom of the motor from the stand pipe of the supply connection and is discharged through a Waste water outlet at the top. A valve is used to control the flow of water to the motor so thatthe rate of oscillation may be accurately controlled.

A tubular shaft is connected to the hub, there being provided a-bottom thrust bearing to carry the weight of at least part of the shaft and the nozzles. These nozzles, as above mentioned, are diametrically opposite and are mountedon tubular arms. By this constructionthe operation of the motor oscillates the tubular shaft, hence, the arms and the discharge nozzles.

My invention isillustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation. i a l Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig.1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig.3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figs. 2 or 3 taken in the direction of the arrows.

. In my invention I illustrate a tripod support 11, which has a hollow base 12. This base hasa fitting 13 to which, supplyline or supply hose 14 is connected. 1 A stand pipe 15 is connected to the base 12 and forms a mounting for the hydraulic engine or'mot'or designated at 16.

This motor is, preferably, of a standard type slightly modified for myespecial purpose. This is illustrated as having a lower disk 17 with 'a 'tubularsection 18 extending downwardly, the tubular section having a 'screwth'readedconnection with the stand pipe 15. A ring 19 rests on the disk V1'? in an annular groove 20, and an upper disk 21 issupported on the upper edge of the ring, thering fitting in an annular groove 22. The two disks withthe ring are securedtogether by clamping bolts 23. Attached to the disk th ereis an inwardly'extending valve housing 24, this being secured by a stud 25 extending outwardly through a perforation in the ring 15 and secured by nuts 26. The valve housing has an intake valve 27 and an outlet or discharge valve 28.

The rotor 29 of the motor has a hub section 30. This hub in this case is indicated as tubular, and extending radially from this there is a blade or piston 31. Mounted on the blade there are the valve shifters 32, these being of a standard construction to shift the valve stem 33 of the intake valve and 34 of the discharge valve, the intake valve having a central double acting plug 35 and the stem 34 having a pair of end single acting plugs 36. These features are of the usual construction.

In my arrangement, the hollow hub 30 may be considered as a tubular shaft and carries a downward extension 37. This extension rests'on a thrust sleeve 38, which rests on an annular shoulder 39 in the bottom of the lower of the tubular depending section 18 of the lower disk 17. The thrust bearing is illustrated as having conical wear surface 40. A hydraulic packing 41 is fitted in the enlarged bore 42 of this depending section 1.8.

The downward extension 37 is provided with a plurality of ports 43 which discharge into an annular groove 44. This groove is connected to an intake water duct 45 which communicates through a valve 46 with a water passage 4'7 below the intake, which communicates with the inlet valve 27. The duct 45 is illustrated as having a valve seat 48 with a valve plug 49 seated thereon. This plug is operated by a stem 50 operating through a closure nut 51 and a gland 52, and packing 53. Therefore, by manipulation of the stem 50 the plug may bear on the seat 48 or be removed therefrom to control the inflow of water to the valves of the engine. The duct 45 and passage 47 are formed in the lower disk 17.

In the upper disk '21 there is a waste water duct 54 which connects with the discharge valve 28. This duct 54 is connected to a discharge connector 55' which has a closure plug 56 at the top with a. series of outlet ports 5'7.

An upper extension of the tubular shaft 58 extends upwardly from the tubular hub through a stuffing box 59. Connected to the upper end of this shaft there are a pair of arms 60. These arms diverge in a radial direction, being, preferably, diametrically opposite and each carries a discharge water nozzle 61.

The manner of operation of my sprinkler so far described is as follows:

The water supply for both the motor and the sprinkler enters through the pipe of the supply "line 14 and passes up through the stand pipe 15. From this standpoint there is a clear passage through the thrust bearing sleeve 38, the lower section 3'7 of the tubular shaft, the hub section of this shaft, the upper section 58 of such shaft, the arm '60, and is discharged through the discharge nozzles 61. The water is under adequate pressure to give the desired water projection or spray. The water supply for the motor is through the ports 43, the annular groove 44, the water duct 45, then through the adjustable valve connection 46. The water is then discharged on one side or other of the valve housing 24, and acting on the blade or piston 31 oscillates this, hence, the tubular shaft is oscillated. This rotates the arms 60 substantially one-half circle. Hence, the nozzles 61 each rotate through a semi-circle and discharge the water, each having a semi-circular throw. These nozzles may be of any standard construction and do not form par-t of my invention.

It will be noted, therefore, that by use of my invention there is no interference with the flow of water to the spraying or sprinkling nozzles for operating the hydraulic motor. The pressure of the water as supplied to the nozzles, is amply sufficient to actuate the hydraulic motor, and this hydraulic motor may be readily adjusted as to speed to give a slow or a quick oscillating action.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

'1. In a water sprinkler, a motor housing having a cylindrical structure, a stand pipe connected at the bottom and concentric with the cylindrical structure, a rotatable tubular shaft extending. through the housing, means forming a thrust bearing for the lower end of the tubular shaft, part of said shaft forming a hub, a valve housing extending between the hub and the cylindrical portion of the housing, said housing having an intake and discharge valve, a piston rigidly connected to the hub portion of the tubular shaft, there being a direct water connection from the stand pipe to the tubular shaft, a lateral connection from the stand pipe to the valve housing with a control valve therein, a discharge connector from the housing, said connector having a discharge other than into the tubular shaft, and means operated by the oscillation of the piston to control the valves in the valve housing.

2. In an irrigation apparatus, a stand pipe with connections to a water supply, a hydraulic motor having a fixed housing secured to the stand pipe, an inlet to the housing having a control valve, a waste water outlet from the housing, said motor having a rotor with a hollow hub and a pipe connected .to the upper end of said hub and adapted to support a sprinkler, a sleeve forming a thrust bearing for the lower end of said hub, the pipe extending above the motor housing and the waste outlet being separate from said pipe.

3. In an, irrigation apparatus as claimed in claim 2,the motor housing having an annular groove, the hub having parts connecting the interior .of said hub and said groove and the water inlet to the motor being from said groove.

4. In an irrigation apparatus, a stand pipe, a hydraulic motor mounted therein having a fixed casing with a fixed radial valve housing therein with valves, an inlet to said valve housing having an inlet control valve, a water outlet from the valve housing, the motor having a rotor with g a hollow hub and a radial blade extending therefrom, the hollow hub having a pipe forming an extension thereof, a thrust bearing for the hollow hub, said pipe having ,a water sealed connection with the stand pipe and being in vertical alignment with such pipe adapted .to supp a prinkler, the inlet to the valve housing having a connection to the stand pipe, the waste outlet from the valve housing being separate from the pipe.

5. In an irrigation apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, a connection of the stand pipe to the inlet of the valve housing, comprising an annular groove formed in the motor housing and ports through the hub. connecting thereto.

6. In an irrigation apparatus, a motor hous ing having a tubular section .at the bottom, a cylindrical portion thereabout and a closed top, a stand pipe connected to .the tubular section, a bearing sleeve in said section, said section having an annular groove. a tubular ,hub mounted in the tubular section and extending through the cylindrical portion and bearing on the sleeve, said hub having ports to align with the groove, a hollow valve housing connected to the cylindrical portion and engaging the hub and having an intake and discharge valve therein, a fluid connection from the groove to the intake valve, said latter connection having a control valve, a piston rigidly connected to the hub and having valve shifters to shift the intake and discharge valves, a discharge connection from the discharge valve and having outlet ports, the discharge from the outlet ports being separate from the discharge to the tubular hub.

7. In an irrigation apparatus, a motor housing having a lower tubular section and a fixed valve housing with inlet and outlet valves in said latter housing, means forming a water passage from the tubular section to the valve housing and means forming a discharge outlet from the valve housing, a tubular hub mounted in the motor housing extending into the tubular section, said tubular section having a thrust bearing for the lower end of the said hub, a pipe adapted to support a sprinkler connected to the upper end of the hub, a piston attached to the hub and valve shifters on the said piston to operate the said inlet and outlet valves.

8. In an irrigation apparatus, a motor housing having a'lower tubular section, a hub in the housing having a downward extension in the tubular section, means in the tubular section forming a thrust bearing for the said hub, a pipe adapted to support a sprinkler connected to the upper end of the hub, the hub forming part of a rotor in the motor housing, inlet and outlet valves located in the motor housing, means forming a fluid connection from said tubular section to said valves and means forming an outlet from the said valves separate from the discharge through the pipe.

9. In an irrigation apparatus, a motor housing having a tubular downward extension, a fixed valve housing having inlet and outlet valves, means forming a water connection from the tubular section to the inlet valve of the valve housing, said connection having a control valve, a waste water outlet connected to the outlet valve of the valve housing, a rotor in the motor housing having a tubular hub such hub having a downward extension, means forming a thrust bearing in the tubular section for said hub, a pipe adapted to support a sprinkler connected to the upper end of the hub, the discharge from the outlet in the valve housing being separate from the discharge through the pipe.

MAURICE AARON BALAAM. 

